In both The Bluest Eye and The American Born Chinese cultural identity is the main themes. Pecola and Jin are both trying to find themselves along with take pride in their race. Pecola sees herself as ugly and just wants to wake up one morning with blue eyes and white skin because to her, white is beautiful. Pecola is made fun of by her peers and looked at differently, just like Jin. Jin even went as far as altering his appearance to look more like Greg so Amelia will like him. Both of these characters wish they were something that their not and do not see their own individual beauty.